Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery (2011)

Angelica Guerrero

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, in which at least 206 people with ties to Massachusetts perished. The first flights to be hijacked took off from Boston Logan International Airport. Madeline “Amy” Sweeney, a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, displayed extraordinary cool under extreme pressure during the hijacking. The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund Blog is profiling the Sweeney Award recipients for the past quarter century every week leading up to the naming of the 2026 Honoree(s) at the 25th Anniversary Commemoration on September 11th.

West Springfield mom dies shielding daughter in bathtub as tornado levels house

The West Springfield home of Angelica and Juan Guerrero was demolished by a historic EF-3 tornado on June 1st, 2011. The Guerreros were in the living room on the ground floor of the Union Street triple-decker as the tornado packing 160-mph winds hit.

Angelica, 39, ran to the bedroom where her daughter Ibone, 15, was taking a nap. She took her daughter to a bathtub and covered Ibone with her own body. Juan, disabled in a construction accident years ago, was moving into the bathroom to throw himself on top of his wife when the building came crashing down.

It took responders two hours to reach the mother and daughter through the rubble. Angelica died of the injuries she suffered, while Ibone survived with leg injuries thanks to her mother’s courageous actions. Juan sustained two bulging discs and a broken bone in his pelvis and now relies on a cane to get around.

"I feel my wife is a hero. She was my hero, is my hero and is always going to be my hero," Juan told MassLive.

Rep. Michael J. Finn and Sen. James R. Welch, both of West Springfield, nominated Angelica. "The whole (State House) chamber was filled. It was very inspiring," Finn told MassLive of the ceremony. "She was there for her family. It was an incredible act of heroism."

Three people died in the tornado, with 200 injured. At the height of its 37-mile touchdown, it cut a swath 880-yards wide.

Juan encouraged everyone at the ceremony to cherish every moment they have with their loved ones. “It’s a pleasure to be here today not only to remember the day, but to remember every single day behind and in front of us,’’ he said.

Next week: Wakefield man saves East Boston residents from 7-alarm fire